Single pole double throw switch with a one piece contact spring with two u-shaped segments center biasing the actuator



Sept. 8, 1970 53- GIONET 3,527,913

- SINGLE POLE DOUBLE THROW SWITCH WITH A ONE PIECE CONTACT SPRING WITH Two U-SHAPED SEGMENTS CENTER BIASING THE ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 1, 1968 7 1- Z2) /Z3 i /ff 5 i $3.: Fifi: llllllll f- I INVENTOR. id/220270 r? Gab/2e ATTOR/V Y United States Patent US. Cl. 200-153 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an electric switch for use in selectively controlling energization of either a first or second electric circuit. The switch includes a base member carrying a plurality of spaced terminals and a mobile contact carrier comprising a one piece member in conductive engagement with one of the terminals and which is normally self biased to a normal position in which the mobile contacts carried thereby are spaced from the other terminals. The switch further includes a switch actuator biased to a normal position by the mobile contact carrier, butwhich is manually movable in opposite directions from its normal position to selectively move respective ones of the mobile contacts carried thereby into engagement with the associated other terminals to effect energization of either the first or second electric circuit.

The present invention relates to an electric switch for use in selectively controlling energization of either a first or second electric circuit. In particular, the present invention relates to an electric switch of the general type having a switch housing means carrying a plurality of spaced stationary contacts or terminals, a mobile contact carrier means in conductive engagement with one of the stationary contacts and which is biased to a normal position in which the mobile contacts carried thereby are spaced from the other stationary contacts, and a switch actuator which is biased to a normal position by the contact carrier means and which is movable in opposite directions from its normal position to selectively move respective ones of the mobile contacts carried thereby into engagement with the associated other terminals to selectively effect energization of either the first or second electric circuit.

An important object of the present invention is to pro vide a new and improved electric switch of the general type referred to above and which is of a simple, highly practical and economical construction, and yet provides a reliable switching action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric switch of the general type referred to above and in which the mobile contact carrier means is a one piece metallic member having a base in conductive engagement with one of the terminals and a pair of U-shaped springs each having one leg integral with the base portion and the other free leg carrying a mobile contact, the U-shaped springs being self-biased to a normal position in which the mobile contacts are spaced from the other terminals and being selectively movable in opposition to their biasing forces to move the mobile contact carried thereby into engagement with the associated other terminals in response to movement of the actuator in opposite directions from its normal position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric switch of the general type referred to above and in which the mobile contact ice carrier includes resilient leaf spring portions in conductive engagement with one of the terminals and which are selfbiased to a normal position in which the mobile contacts carried thereby are spaced from the other terminals, and in which the leaf spring portions and the actuator have portions which cooperably engage one another and in a manner such that the leaf spring portions bias the actuator to a normal position and such that the actuator when moved in opposite directions from its normal position selectively moves or deflects the leaf spring portions toward engagement with respective ones of the other terminals.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electric switch, as defined in the next preceding object, and in which the leaf spring portions are laterally spaced from and extend in opposite directions with respect to each other, and in which the leaf spring portions are of a stepped configuration to provide surfaces which cooperably engage the opposite sides of the actuator and bias the latter toward its normal position.

The present invention further resides in various novel constructions and arrangement of parts, and further objects, novel characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates and from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment thereof made with ref erence to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which similar reference numerals or characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view, with portions shown in elevation, of an electric switch embodying the present invention and showing the same mounted on a panel;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 1 but showing certain parts thereof in different positions;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of the switch shown in FIG. 1.

The present invention provides a novel electric switch or circuit controller for use in selectively controlling energization of either a first or second electric circuit. Although the novel electric switch of the present invention could be employed in various kinds or types of applications in which it is desired to selectively control energization of either a first or second electric circuit, it is purticularly susceptible for use in controlling the direction of rotation of a reversible electric motor for actuating various components of an automotive vehicle or for selectively controlling energization of either a first or second solenoid of an automatic door locking and unlocking system. For the purposes of illustration, the novel switch will be described as being used for the latter purpose.

As representing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drawings show an electric switch 10 for use in selectively controlling energization of either a first or second solenoid of an automatic door locking and unlocking system for an automotive vehicle. Since the automatic door locking and unlocking system of the auto motive vehicle could be of any suitable construction and since it does not per se form a part of the present invention, it has not been shown in the drawings and will not be described. Suflice it to say that the switch 10 could be used in an automatic door locking and unlockingsystem such as that shown in application Ser. No. 508,896, now

3 Pat. No. 3,359,767 issued Dec. 26, 1967, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The electric switch comprises, in general, an escutcheon or switch housing means 12 which is adapted to be detachably mounted on a suitable panel, such as an interior door panel 13 of the automotive vehicle, a base member 14 carrying a plurality of terminals 15, 16 and 17 and supported by the escutcheon 12, a mobile contact carrier 18 supported by the base member 14 and which is self biased toward a normal position in which the mobile contacts 19 and 20 thereof are spaced from the output terminals 16 and 17, respectively and an actuator 22 which is biased to a normal position by the self biased mobile contact carrier 18, but which is movable in opposite directions from its normal position to selectively move the mobile contacts 19' and 20 into engagement with the output terminals 16 and 17, respectively, to selectively effect either a first or second switching function.

The escutcheon 12 comprises the housing portion 12a which is of a generally rectangilar configuration and a decorative flange portion 12b surrounding housing portion 121: at one end thereof. The housing portion 12a is open at its inner or lower end, as viewed in FIG. 1, and has an end wall portion 120 at its outer or upper end provided with an opening 30 through which the actuator 22 extends. The generally rectangularly shaped housing portion 12a is adapted to be inserted through a complementary shaped opening 32 in the interior door panel 13, and with the decorative flange portion 12b being positioned against the side of the door panel 13 facing interiorly of the vehicle.

The escutcheon 12 is detachably mounted on the interior door panel 13 by a pair of springs 35 carried by the housing portion 12a. The springs 35 have an inner end portion 35a in the form of a clip which is suitably secured to the inner end of the housing portion 12a and an outer flexible free end portion 35b. The transverse distance between the free end portions 35b and the two springs 35 is greater than the transverse dimension of the opening 32 in the panel 13 and the outer free end portions 35b have tapered shoulders 35c extending inwardly toward the housing portion 121:.

The escutcheon 12 is mounted on the door panel 13 by inserting the inner end of the housing portion 12a through the opening 32 until the flange portion 12b engages the door panel 13. As the housing portion 12a is inserted through the opening 32, the free end portions 35b of the springs 35 are deflected inwardly toward the housing portion 12a by the side wall of the panel 13 defining the opening 32 until the tapered shoulders 350 are in alignment with the side wall of the panel 13 where- 'upon the free end portions 35b will flex outwardly relative to the housing portion 12a to position the shoulders 35c behind the panel 13. The escutcheon 12 is securely retained on the panel 13 as a result of the flange portion 12b of the escutcheon 12 and the shoulders 35c of the springs 35 engaging the opposite sides of the panel 13.

The base member 14 for supporting the terminals 15, 16 and 17 and the mobile contact carrier 18 is carried by the housing portion 12a at its lower or inner end, as viewed in FIG. 1. The base member 14 is of a generally rectangular shape and is slidably received within oppositely located notches or slots 40 in the inner end of the housing portion 12a. The base member 14 at its upper side 14a abuttingly engages the bottom surfaces 40a of the notches or slots 40. The base member 14 is retained in abutting engagement with the surfaces 40a as a result of the housing portion 12a at its inner end being staked cured to the base by suitable rivets and with the upper end of the rivets, as viewed in FIG. 1, providing conductive or stationary contact surfaces 15a, 16a and 170, respectively, disposed interiorly of the housing portion 12a. The terminals 15, 16 and 17 are spaced from each other such that the leftmost outer terminal 16, as viewed in FIG. 2, is disposed to the left and upwardly relative to the center terminal 15 and the rightmost terminal 17 is disposed to the right and below the center terminal 15. The center terminal 15 is adapted to be electrically connected with a power source, such as the battery (not shown) of the automotive vehicle. The outer terminals 16 and 17 are adapted to be electrically connected via lead wires (not shown) to first and second control solenoids (not shown) of an automatic door locking and unlocking system, the control solenoids in turn being connected to a suitable ground.

The mobile contact carrier 18 is supported by the base member 14 and comprises a one piece metallic member having a base 18a secured to the base member 14 by the rivet for the center terminal 15 and a pair of U-shaped springs 18b and 180 integral with the opposite ends of the base 18a. The U-shaped springs 18b and 180 are laterally spaced from each other and extend generally parallel to each other. The U-shaped springs 18b and 180 each have an upper leg 50, a lower leg 51 and an intermediate bight portion 52, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5. The lower legs 51 of the springs 18b and 180 are in engagement with the planer upper surface 14a of the base member 14 and their upper legs 50 extend generally parallel to the lower legs 51 and the base member 14. The upper legs 50 of the springs 18b and 18c terminate in free end portions and with the mobile contacts 19 and 20 being carried by the free end portions. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the upper legs 50 extend in opposite directions with respect to each other.

The mobile contact carrier 18 can be stamped and bent to the configuration shown in FIG. 5 from flat metal stock, and with the U-shaped spring portions 18b and 18c being in the form of elongated, flat, thin, resilient blades. The upper legs 50 of the U-shaped springs 18b and 180 serve as a flexible blade or leaf spring.

The U-shaped springs 18b and 18c of the mobile contact carrier 18 are self-biased to a normal position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the mobile contacts 19 and 20 carried thereby are held in a position which is spaced from the conducting surfaces 16a and 17a of the outer terminals 16 and 17. The springs 18b and 180 also bias the actuator 22 toward a normal or center position, as showninFIG. 1.

The actuator, as best shown in FIG. 4, is pivotally connected to the housing portion 12a for pivotal move ment about an axis 60. To this end, the housing portion 12a includes a pair of axially extending channels or grooves 61 which terminate in upper arcuate abutment surfaces 62 and the actuator button has a pair of transversely extending ears or projections 63 having arcuate upper surfaces and which are slidably received within the channels 61. The actuator is biased upwardly as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4 and with the projections 63 engaging the abutment surface 62 defining the upper end of the channel by the U-shaped springs 18b and 180. The actuator 22 includes an arcuately extending portion 22a in close proximity with the end wall of the housing defining the opening and a button portion 22b which isv adapted to be manually grasped by the operator to move the same in opposite directions from its normal position. The arcuately extending portion 22a provides a sealing function in that it prevents or minimizes dirt and dust from entering the housing 12a.

The upper legs 50' of the U-shaped springs 18b and are movable or deflectable downwardly in opposition to their self-biasing forces to move the mobile contacts 19 and 20 carried thereby into engagement with the conducting surfaces of the terminals 16 and 17 in response to pivotal movement of the actuator 22 in first and second directions from its normal position, respectively. To this end, the actuator has a downwardly extending V- shaped cam portion 22c and the upper legs of the U- shaped springs 18b and 180 are of stepped configuration, as viewed in side elevation in FIG. 1, to provide ramp surfaces 66 between the steps. The ramp surfaces 66 between the upper and lower steps of the legs 50 extend parallel to the adjacent side of the V-shaped cam portion 22c and with the surfaces 66 engaging the opposite sides of the V-shaped cam portion 220 to bias the actuator 22 to its center position, as shown in FIG. 1.

The actuator 22 when pivotally moved from its normal position in the direction of the arrow 70 in FIG. 3 causes the cam portion 22c thereof to be moved in the opposite direction in opposition to the biasing force of the upper leg 50 of the U-shaped spring portion 18b. The cam portion 22c when moved in this direction rides on the ramp surface 66 of the upper leg or free end portion 50 of the U-shaped spring 18b and causes the latter to be bowed and deflected to the position shown in FIG. 3. When in this position, the mobile contact 19 engages the conductive surface 17a of the terminal 17 to provide a conductive path from the center terminal 15 through the contact carrier 18 to the terminal 17. When the actuator 22 is moved from its normal position in the direction of the arrow 71 in FIG. 1, the cam portion 22c thereof will ride on the ramp surface 66 of the U-shaped spring 180 and cause the free end portion thereof to be deflected downwardly and the mobile contact 20 to engage the conducting surface 16a of the terminal 16. This provides a conductive path from the center terminal 15 through the carrier 18 to the outer terminal 16.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that the novel switch 10 is of a simple and economical construction. Moreover, it should be apparent that the one piece metallic mobile contact carrier can be readily stamped from thin metal stock and bent to the configuration shown in FIG. and thus, can be readily and economically produced as -well as being readily attachable to the base member in conducting relationship with the center terminal.

Although the illustrated embodiment thereof has been described in great detail, it should be apparent that certain modifications, changes, and adaptations may be made in the illustrated embodiment, and that it is intended to cover all such modifications, changes and adaptations which come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electricswitch for use in selectively controlling energization-of either a first or second electric circuit comprising a switch housing, a base member carried by said housing, first, second and third switch terminals carried by said base member, said terminals being spaced from each other and having a conducting surface facing interiorly of said housing, first and second mobile contacts disposed adjacent to but normally spaced from said conducting surfaces of said second and third terminals, 8. contact carrier for carrying said mobile contacts, said contact carrier comprising a one piece member having a base portion secured to said base member and being in conducting engagement with said first terminal and first and second generally U-shaped springs each having one leg thereof integral with the base portion and the other free leg thereof spaced from but extending generally parallel to the base member, said U-shaped springs being oppositely disposed and laterally spaced from each other, said first and second mobile contacts being respectively carried by said other legs of said first and second U-shaped springs, an actuator having a cam portion cooperably engageable with a ramp portion on said other legs of said first and second U-shaped springs and being supported for movement in opposite directions from a normal position to first and second positions, said first and second U-shaped springs biasing said actuator toward said normal position, said cam portion of said actuator when the latter is moved toward said first and second positions from said normal position respectively effecting movement of said other leg of said first and second springs to move the mobile contact carried thereby into engagement with said second and third terminals to provide a conductive path between said first terminal and said second and third terminals, said U-shaped springs returning said actuator toward its normal position when the latter is released upon being moved to said first and second positions.

2. An electric switch as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator extends through an opening in said housing and has a pair of spaced arcuate bearing surfaces, and wherein said housing has arcuate guide portions at its opposite sides which are slidably engaged by said arcuate bearing surfaces of said actuator, said U-shaped springs biasing said arcuate bearing surfaces of said actuator into engagement with said guide portions at the opposite lateral sides of said housing.

3. -An electric switch for use in selectively controlling energization of either a first or second electric circuit comprising a switch housing, a base member carried by said housing, first, second and third terminals carried by said base member, said terminals being spaced from each other and each having a conducting surface facing interiorly of said housing, first and second mobile contacts disposed adjacent to but normally spaced from said conducting surfaces of said second and third terminals, a contact carrier for carrying said mobile contacts, said contact carrier comprising first and second leaf spring portions carried by said base member and which are in conducting engagement with said first terminal, said first and second leaf spring portions being spaced from and extending generally parallel to the base member, said first and second leaf spring portions being laterally spaced from each other and having free ends which carry said first and second mobile contacts, respectively, said first and second leaf spring portions being stepped as viewed in side elevation to define ramp surfaces extending transversely of their longitudinal extent and which respectively face in opposite directions, and an actuator pivotally supported for movement in opposite directions from a normal position and having a cam portion engageable with said ramp surfaces, said first and second leaf spring portions biasing said actuator toward said normal position, said actuator when moved in a first direction from said normal position effecting movement of said first leaf spring portion to move said first mobile contact carried thereby into engagement with said second terminal to provide a conductive path between said first terminal and said second terminal and when moved in a second opposite direction from said normal position elfecting movement of said second leaf portion to move the second mobile contact carried thereby into engagement with said third terminal to provide a conductive path between said first terminal and said third terminal, said first and second leaf spring portions respectively returning said actuator toward its normal position when the latter is released upon being moved in said first and second directions from its normal position to effect a switching action.

4. An electric switch as defined in claim 3 wherein said cam portion of said actuator is generally V-shaped and wherein said ramp surfaces extend parallel to the adjacent side of said V-shaped cam portion and are engageable therewith.

5. An electric switch as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second leaf spring portions are U-shaped and,

integral with a base portion extending transversely thereof, the base portion being secured to the base member.

6. .An electric switch as defined in claim 5 wherein said base portion of said spring means defines an approximately 45 included angle with the U-shaped spring portions.

8. 7. An electric switch as defined in claim 6 wherein said 3,131,265 4/ 1-964 Toruk.

U-shaped springs, are the form of elongated, flat, thin, 3,178,522 4/1965 PassarelLf- I resilient strips of metal. 3,299,241 1 196f7 Say Ward,v

References Cited ROBERTS. MACON, e imar sexamme'a UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Assistant Examiner 1,925,612 9/1933 Snell.

2,587,399 2/1952 Smith. 200-6, 166 

